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Application user interface with navigation bar showing current and prior application contextsRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Operator Interface (e.g., Graphical User Interface), On Screen Video Or Audio System Interface, Multiple Diverse SystemsApplication user interface with navigation bar showing current and prior application contexts description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070157094, Application user interface with navigation bar showing current and prior application contexts. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/756,832, filed Jan. 5, 2006, entitled "Application User Interface with Navigation Bar Showing Current and Prior Application Contexts," which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The disclosed embodiments relate generally to user interfaces, and more particularly, to an application user interface with a navigation bar for use in a portable electronic device. BACKGROUND [0003] Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., can include a multitude of applications. Through these applications, a user can perform many functions on the device. The user interacts with these applications via the user interfaces of the applications. The user interface is the gateway through which users receive not only content but also responses to user actions or behaviors, including user attempts to access a device's features or tools. The user interface, therefore, is an integral part in the design of these applications and helps determine the ease of use, and thus the quality of the overall user experience, of such devices. [0004] One challenge in the design of user interfaces for applications in portable devices involves navigation within an application. Applications in conventional devices often do not provide sensory feedback to the user regarding which contexts of the application the user has recently used. Furthermore, whenever a user backtracks through the contexts of an application, the application often does not remind the user of the context to which he or she is backtracking. This lack of sensory feedback can be frustrating for a user who gets lost in the menu structure of an application and wishes to know where he or she is in the application. [0005] Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for navigating within an application in a portable electronic device. SUMMARY [0006] The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for portable devices are reduced or eliminated by including a navigation bar in these user interfaces. [0007] A current application context of an application is displayed in an application display region of a display in a portable device. A navigation bar is displayed adjacent to the application display region. In some embodiments, the navigation bar includes at least three horizontally adjacent regions, including a current context region for displaying an indicator of a second application context, a prior context region for displaying an indicator of a first application context, and a link region for displaying an indicator of a third application context. Upon detection of user selection of the prior context region, operation is shifted to the first application context, including displaying in the prior context region of the navigation bar a fourth application context. The fourth application context includes an application context, if any, that preceded the first application context. Upon detection of user selection of the link region, operation is shifted to the third application context, including displaying in the prior context region of the navigation bar an indicator of the second application context. [0008] In some embodiments, the navigation bar includes only the current context region and the prior context region. [0009] In some embodiments, the shifting operation includes simulating shifting of the application display region in a first direction upon detecting user selection of the prior context region, and includes simulating shifting of the application display region in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon detecting user selection of the link region. The first direction may be to the right and the second direction may be to the left. [0010] In another embodiment, a current application context of a first application is displayed in an application display region of a display of a portable device, the device having a menu button distinct from the display. A navigation bar is displayed adjacent to the application display region. The navigation bar includes at least three horizontally adjacent regions, including the prior context region and the link region. Upon detection of user selection of the prior context region, operation of the device is shifted to the first application context within the first application. Upon detection of user selection of the link region, operation of the device is shifted to the second application context within the first application. Upon detection of user selection of the menu button, operation of the device is shifted to the application selection context for selecting any of a predefined set of applications, including a plurality of second applications. [0011] In another embodiment, a current application context of an application is displayed in an application display region of a display of a portable device. The navigation bar, including a list of indicators of recently navigated application contexts of the application including an indicator of the current application context, is displayed adjacent to the application display region. Upon detection of user navigation to the first application context corresponding to the application context preceding the current application context, operation is shifted to the first application context and the indicator of the current application context is removed from the list. Upon detection of user navigation of the second application context corresponding to an application context succeeding the current application context, operation is shifted to the second application context and an indicator of the second application context is appended to the list and displayed in the navigation bar. [0012] The aforementioned methods may be performed by a portable electronic device having a touch-sensitive display with a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing these methods. In some embodiments, the portable electronic device provides a plurality of functions, including wireless communication. [0013] Instructions for performing the aforementioned methods may be included in a computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures. [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable electronic device, according to some embodiments of the invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display, according to some embodiments of the invention. [0017] FIGS. 3-5 are flow diagrams illustrating processes for navigating between application contexts of an application in a device, according to some embodiments of the invention. [0018] FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams illustrating navigation to a preceding application context of an application, according to some embodiments of the invention. [0019] FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams illustrating navigation to a succeeding application context of an application, according to some embodiments of the invention. Continue reading about Application user interface with navigation bar showing current and prior application contexts... 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